Police: Brazen Burglar Caught On Camera While Stealing More Than $10,000 In Valuables From Astoria Home
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)-- A brazen burglar might have thought he was in luck after discovering the front window of a home unlocked, that is until he climbed inside, looked straight into the camera and was caught on home surveillance.
"I called my husband I said 'I think we've been robbed,'" Nadia Muller told CBS2's Steve Langford.
Muller arrived home a couple of hours after the burglary to find more than $10,000 worth of valuables gone, including some very precious items.
"My wedding ring, my engagement ring," she said.
The video documenting the alleged suspect couldn't have been better, catching a near perfect portrait of the young man. Police said the suspect spent close to three minutes in the home before belatedly coming up with something to cover the lens.
"It was a really bad feeling someone broke in, someone was here, someone took my things," Muller said.
The suspect spent at least 20 minutes inside and was apparently assisted by an accomplice for whom he had opened the front door. The burglary took place mid-morning Saturday on 33rd Street in Astoria.
Langford notes how astonishing it is that anyone could just climb through someone's front window at 10:30 in the morning without anyone noticing. Later, someone recalled seeing what appeared to be a couple of contractors outside.
"A neighbor saw two young guys sitting outside on the stoop and he thought they were my landlord's workers," Muller said.
The smooth operator's scheme didn't account for the possibility of surveillance video.
"I hope they find him," Muller added.
Police describe the suspect as an Hispanic teenager weighing about 150 pounds with a goatee, brown eyes and short black hair.